The Pittsburgh Penguins got the result they wanted Wednesday night in San Jose, but it took a heavy lift from rookie Sergei Murashov to make it happen. Pittsburgh edged the Sharks in a shootout, and Murashov was the difference in a game the Penguins had to grind through all the way to the finish.
The win came with plenty to unpack. Pittsburgh’s latest recap and goal breakdown dug into how the game unfolded, and the takeaway was mixed: the Penguins earned the two points, but they still aren’t playing their best hockey. Their report card reflected that split, with a couple of young players drawing positive marks and Murashov standing out as the top performer on the ice.
On the San Jose side, there was plenty to sort through after the loss. Sheng Peng spent time in the Sharks locker room and spoke with Macklin Celebrini and Ivar Stenberg, while also getting the details on the near fight involving Kaedan Korczak.
Stenberg also hit a few posts in the shootout defeat, and the puck seems to just find him. He is really … REALLY going to be something special.
Back on the Penguins beat, the conversation quickly turned from the game itself to the bigger picture. After the first wave of questions centered on trades and trade possibilities, the latest Penguins Q&A leaned fully into that territory.
Elsewhere around the league, the noise in Philadelphia keeps building around Matvei Michkov. After Kevin Weekes reported that Michkov would probably like a fresh start, the Flyers had to deal with the fallout on Wednesday.
Michkov was pressed on the report and on his on-ice shouting match with Nick Seeler, while GM Daniel Briere also addressed the trade talk. It was a messy day for the Flyers, and the friction was out in the open.
Toronto is dealing with its own frustration. William Nylander has become a target for both fans and coach Jim Hiller, and trade rumors have started to swirl around him even though no one else seems to be hearing them.
There was also an update on Nick Cousins, who was knocked cold by Jakob Chychrun’s hit Tuesday night. It was described as the most violent hit in the NHL in a decade or more.
The comparison that came to mind was Matt Cooke’s hit on David Savard in 2010, though that one would be wildly illegal now. Chychrun’s hit was legal, which only underscores how much the game has changed that everyone is still talking about it.
And in Chicago, the Blackhawks are looking to add help on the wing. On the international front, the NHL expected Russia to be in the World Cup of Hockey, but other countries are saying nyet.
In Other News...
Penguins Trade Plans Just Hit A Rickard Rakell Roadblock
The Penguins offseason direction has already been clear enough: if theyre going to retool, the front office may have to turn some of its established veterans into draft capital and younger pieces. Rickard Rakell has been among the names floating around in that conversation, alongside Bryan Rust, as Pittsburgh weighs whether to keep leaning on older core players or start cashing in value for the future.
A new wrinkle surfaced this week when a rumor on the Spittin Chiclets Podcast suggested Rakell was part of a potential deal that never got off the ground. With the limited no-trade clause in play, the situation underscores how complicated these moves can get for a team trying to reshape its roster, and it leaves the Penguins still searching for a workable path if they want to move forward with their rebuild plans. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Defensive Depth Takes Another Turn With One Young Blueliner
Wilkes-Barre/Scrantons defensive shuffle continued with another move involving a young blueliner, as David Breazeale was sent back to the Florida Everblades. Breazeale had already logged four games with Florida this season, and his time in the Penguins organization has included a brief but useful look at the AHL level, where he has appeared in 11 regular-season games and picked up four points.
The timing comes as the Penguins head into a busy stretch with games against Hershey and Hamilton, along with special Veterans Day Celebration events on the calendar. For a club trying to manage its blue line depth while keeping an eye on development, Breazeales latest assignment is another reminder that the back end remains a fluid part of the roster picture. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Fans Will Have Plenty To Celebrate At This Hall Of Fame Game
The Penguins are turning their annual Hall of Fame Game into a showcase night for the franchises history, with a pregame ceremony and refreshed displays set to highlight some of the most important figures to wear the black and gold. It will come Nov. 14 at PPG Paints Arena, when Ottawa visits and the building gets a little extra shine for a tradition that has become one of the teams more meaningful dates on the calendar.
This years celebration will honor Marc-Andre Fleury, Larry Murphy, Jim Rutherford and Jack McGregor in different categories, giving fans a chance to revisit several eras of Penguins hockey in one night. Beyond the ceremony itself, the updated Hall of Fame displays are meant to give their contributions a more permanent spotlight, making the evening about more than just a game on the schedule. [Read more 🡒]